When Stealing, Curtis Goes by His Notebook : Angels: He has some things to add to his information on pitchers after 16th stolen base.

By ELLIOTT TEAFORD

May 12, 1993 12 AM PT

TIMES STAFF WRITER

ANAHEIM — When in doubt, Chad Curtis runs by the book. He figures it’s just common sense, a simple guide to taking what he can get. Besides, it’s difficult to find fault with the results.

In a notebook he keeps, there is information on every pitcher he has ever faced. He never knows when it will come in handy, so he keeps adding tidbits every so often.

“It’s not super detailed, but it has some tendencies,” said Curtis, the Angels’ center fielder.

Is the pitcher slow in his delivery? How much time does he take between pitches? How fast, or slow, is his fastball?

Those are the sorts of notes Curtis takes on opposing pitchers.

“Some guys start keeping them in the minor leagues,” Angel Manager Buck Rodgers said. “He does his homework.”

There probably wasn’t much to refer to on Minnesota’s Mike Trombley, who started for only the second time this season on Tuesday night. But suffice to say, Curtis learned a few things.

But the bottom line is that he found he can steal off the rookie right-hander. A third-inning steal of third base kept Curtis even with Cleveland’s Kenny Lofton for the American League lead with 16.

Curtis wound up scoring on Chili Davis’ two-run single to center in the Angels’ 5-3 victory over the Twins at Anaheim Stadium.

What enables Curtis to keep swiping bases is his ability to get on base consistently. A double in the third and a single in the fifth pushed his batting average to .291. He scored one run and knocked in another.

Over the last five games, Curtis is eight for 15 (.533) with five runs batted in and three stolen bases. His hitting and baserunning are key reasons the Angels have won three of those five games.

“I’m just trying to see the ball well and hit it,” Curtis said.

And when he doesn’t see anything worth swinging at, he’s content to take a walk.

“Our on-base percentage is so much better because of walks,” Rodgers said. “I don’t know where we are this year, but I know where we were last year. Dead last.”

Once on base, Curtis relies heavily on his note taking and tries to remember Rodgers’ pleas to run wisely. The first part is often easier than the second.

“I pretty much have the green light, but he wants me to pick my spots,” said Curtis, who didn’t record his 16th steal last season until late July. “(Rodgers) expects us to pick our spots. (Monday) with Willie Banks, he’s extremely quick to the plate, so we weren’t going anywhere.”

It was a different story against Trombley, who has been used primarily as a reliever this season.

After Curtis’ one-out double down the left-field line and J.T. Snow’s walk, Rodgers had Curtis and Snow running on a double steal with Davis at the plate.

Minnesota catcher Brian Harper appeared to have a solid shot at throwing out Curtis, but he dropped the ball as he started to take it out of his mitt and the runners were safe.

With reliever George Tsamis pitching, Curtis ran in the fifth, but Harper threw him out at third.